Playing ball



W. D. CRAIG March 7, 1933.

PLAYI NG BALL Filed April 10, 1930 INVENTOR. I l/Z ZliaWZD. Craig- ATTORPatented Mar. 7 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM D. CRAIG, OFMEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA. ASSIGNOR TO HOOEESS FASTENER COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA PLAYING BALL Application filed April 10,

My invention relates to playing balls and particularly to improved meansfor fastening together the edges of the slit in the cover of the ball,which is provided for insertion and removal of bags or bladders.

The general object of my invention is to provide improved fasteningmeans for closing such slits, to take the place of the old leatherlaces.

A more specific object is to provide im-' proved fastening means forclosing a slit in a playing ball, of the slider controlled type, andespecially to provide an improved looking device for holding the sliderlocked in closed position.

A still further object is to provide improved actuatin means for theslider in a fastener as applied in playing balls or similarapplications.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter morefully appear.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown for purposes of illustration,one embodiment whichmyinvention may assume in practice. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates a playing ball provided with my improved fasteningmeans.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the fastener shown in partially opencondition.

Fig. 3 is a view looking at the inside of the co er of the playing ballwith the flap which underlies the fastener, lifted up to show thefastener.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a partial longitudinal section on line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating a portion of the leather facingplaced on the inner side of the fastener stringers.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the inner side of the slider.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the outer side of the slider. a

The playing ball illustrated in Fig. 1 is in the shape of a'footballwhich has a leather cover 10 made up of several sections sewed togetherin the usual manner. The cover has a slit 11 extending longitudinally ofthe ball to provide an opening through which an 1930. Serial No.443,120.

inflatable bag or bladder may be removed and a new one inserted. Thebladder is shown in the sectional View at 12 in Fig. 4, and theinflating connection is not illustrated, it being located as usualopposite the slit.

Instead of the usual laces for closing the slit, a slide fastener havinga pair of stringers 13 and 14 is provided and the detail construction ofthis fastener will not be described since it is well known in the art. Afastener of this type usually has cooperating series of metal fastenerelements 15 clamped to the longitudinal edges of the fabric tape orstringers 13 and 14 and aslider 16 is employed to engage and release thefastener elements. The slider as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 comprisesa pair of spaced inside and outside wings 17 and 18 respectively, theoutside wing 18 having an opening or recess 19 along the longitudinalcenter line of the slider, in which a separate hook actuating member 20may be engaged for moving the slider in either direction.

The manner of attaching the fastener stringers to the opposite sides ofthe slit is important since a considerable strain is placed on the partswhen the bag 12 is inflated to a high pressure. arranged on the innerside of the fastener tapes 13 and 14, such facing being provided with aslot 21 of sufficient width for the free travel of the slider along thefastener elements. The tapes with the leather facing are then insertedthrough the slit 11 and placed in the proper position relative to theslit, then secured to the cover by double lines of sewing 21a and 22 oneach side. Preferably also a flap 23 of leather or other suitablematerial, is attached along one sideand is wide enough'so that itsopposite free edge A leather facing 20 may be underlies the metalfastener elements and the inflated and during the process, it pressesagainst'the flap 23 and forces it up around the lug 24. The higher thepressure to which the bag is inflated, the harder will the blad- 5 derpress against the flap and in turn against the lug 24:. Thus allpossibility of the slider moving along the fastener and allowing theslit to open up, is prevented even when the ball is subjected to severeusage.

By arranging the leather facing 20 on the inner side of the fastenerstringers, the portions of the cover adjacent the slit are stiffened upand at the same time, the stress transmitted from the fastener stringersto the cover, is equalized so that there will be no tendency for theedges of the slit 11 to curl up as might be the case if the tapes wereattached directly to the inner side of the cover without applying theleather facing.

As a result of my invention, it will be observed that an improvedfastening means has been provided in playing balls which will overcomethe PIlIlClPB-l objections heretofore met in attempting to apply slidefasteners in playing balls. In the place of the usual actuating means,the outer surface of the slider is left flat and an opening formed inthe wing along the center line so that it will register with the slit,and a simple tool such as the hook may be used to shift the slider fromone end to the other of the fastener. Also a ver secure lockingarrangement for the slider as been devised which absolutely precludesslipping of the slider even when the ball is subjected to heavy blows.

While I have in this application specifical- 1y described one embodimentwhich my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood thatthis embodiment is merely 40 for the (purpose of illustration anddescription an that various other forms may be devised within the scopeof my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a playing ball, a leather cover having a slit therein, a slidefastener having tape stringers arranged on the inner side of said coveradjacent said slit, metal fastener elements attached to the edges ofsaid tape stringers and a slider movable along said elements to engageand release the same. reinforcing and facing strips arranged over saidtape stringers on the inner side thereof and spaced apart suflicientlyto allow free movement of the slider, a flap attached along one side tosaid cover and having its free edge extending over said metal elementsand slider, and an inflatable bag inside said cover.

2. In a playing ball, a flexible cover having a slit therein, a slidefastener having stringers arranged on the inner side of said cover andsecured to the edges of said slit, fastener elements on said stringers,and a slider movable along said elements to engage and release the Isame, said slider comprising parallel substantially flat wings connectedat one end and a lug projecting inwardly from the face of the innerwing, and an inflatable bag inside said cover which when inflated swellsaround said lug to prevent movement of the slider.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM D. CRAIG.

